Copy of your official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate). Note: for paper copies, please have official correspondence sent to department. Please contact the Graduate Secretary if you wish to have electronic copies sent, as they must meet certain criteria.

Official test scores (GRE and TOEFL) must be submitted to the University via the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Unofficial photocopies of score sheets are useful for review purposes, but we cannot admit applicants without a complete application, which requires official scores.

Arrange for three recommendations from instructors and/or advisors familiar with your academic record who have agreed to write a letter of recommendation for you. This may be done via the student portal (step 2) or by mail. The student portal allows for the student to add referrers, send reminder emails and waive their right to view letters.

For mail submissions, please use our CHEMS Recommendation Form (rather than the form provided by the graduate school.) Fill out and sign the top portion of each form. Ask the recommender to complete the form, attach a letter if they wish, and return it to us at the departmental address given on the bottom of the form.

Applications will only be reviewed when complete and official. Please utilize the student portal for up-to-date information about your application status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Deadlines

The application deadline is January 15. The University requires on-line applications (with the exception of international students living in countries where on-line access is limited.) Most admission decisions are made in January and February, with offers extended immediately upon a favorable decision. Applications received after this date will be reviewed; however, only the most outstanding students will have a realistic chance of being admitted.

International students are encouraged to apply by December 15 in order to facilitate screening for the SPEAK exam.

Financial Aid

Each international student who is accepted into the Ph.D. program will be provided financial aid in the form of a research or teaching assistantship, or a fellowship. These awards are made upon admission to the Ph.D. program; therefore, no additional forms are required besides the application package. There is no financial support for international students who wish to pursue the MS degree and, in general, we do not admit international students at the MS level.

Pre-Evaluation of Admissibility

A fair appraisal of admissibility to our department cannot be provided without a complete application package, including personal and academic statements, transcripts, test scores, and recommendation letters. Please note the guidelines below that may be helpful in your self-assessment.

Standardized Test Guidelines

The GRE General Examination is required of all applicants. When applying for the GRE, use the institution code 1465 for Michigan State University. The department codes are 1001 for chemical engineering and 1403 for materials science.

High GRE scores are necessary for the department to nominate candidates for college or university-wide competitive fellowships such as the UDF/UEF. However, outstanding US students who apply late may be considered for admission without GRE scores. Students admitted to our program typically submit GRE scores above 153 (V) 158 (Q) and 3.5 (A).

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency, sent directly from the testing agency, with the following exceptions:

Bachelor’s degree earned at MSU, the majority of credits earned while on campus.

Bachelor’s degree earned in the U.S. or other English-speaking country, the majority of credits earned on campus in an English-speaking country.

Applicants who meet any of these criteria are encouraged to submit old exam scores to admissions if available.

TOEFL or IELTS results are preferred. We strongly encourage taking the TOEFL iBT (internet-based test). Admitted international students typically achieve a total score of 95 or above on the iBT with speaking and writing scores of 24 or above.

When applying for the TOEFL test, use the institution code 1465 for Michigan State University. The TOEFL test department code to use is 64 for chemical engineering and 69 (engineering other) for materials science.

MSU SPEAK Exam in China

Selected applicants from China will be invited to take the SPEAK exam in either Beijing or Shanghai. This exam is administered by MSU's English Language Center, and will be weighted heavily in comparison to the speaking portion of the TOEFL. The exams are typically offered in late January, with invitations sent to Chinese applicants in mid- to late-December.

Faculty Contact

Faculty advisors are not assigned until after students arrive on campus. You are welcome to consult our faculty and research pages to identify programs that match your interest. While it is not necessary to contact faculty prior to admission, we will be happy to answer research-related questions.

Waiver of Application Fees

Please note that we cannot waive application fees under any circumstances. Applications received without the fee cannot be evaluated.

Transfer During The Graduate Program

It is our general policy not to admit students who want to transfer to our department in the middle of a graduate program at another institution. Unless there are compelling extenuating circumstances, we will only consider such students after they have fulfilled their commitment to their current university. If you are working towards a Masters degree, we will be happy to consider you for admission to our Ph.D. program after you have completed your MS degree.

Graduate Admission Requirements

Admission decisions will only be made when the applicant has a complete and official application(please see checklist to ensure all steps have been followed). Applicants are evaluated based on their whole application package, so the department encourages everyone to apply. The applicant must have completed a Bachelor's or equivalent degree by the start of the semester applying for. Provisional admission is not granted except in very rare extenuating circumstances.